Show case



C.h J. ABELN Aug. 23, 1927.

SHOW CASE Filed April' 28, 1924 Patented Aug. 23, 1927. i

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES J'. ABELN, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

SHOW CASE.

Application led April 28, 1924. Serial No.v 709,384.

This invention relates to show cases, and more particularly to show cases intended for` Vhen the selection has been made, the sale is usually made simply byopening the case so that the purchaser may help himself to as many of the articles as he desires. The sale is thus made directly from the showcase. It is desirable, therefore, to provide a show case which will not only be capable of displaying to advantage a variety of dierent brands of the article, but which is conven-` iently arranged sothat it may be opened to permit the purchaser to make his own selection and to actually Aremove the articles from the show case himself. In making the sale the attendant usually takes his place in a convenient position behind the *case but in which he faces the customer directly and in an effective position for conversation or sales talk. It is, therefore, also desirable to have the show case constructed so that the attendant standing behind the case mayananipulate the doors so as to open the samefor the convenience of the customer.

One of the objects of this invention, therefore, is to provide a show case which will not only be capable of displayingA to advantage a variety of articles, but which isconvenientlyarranged for opening and closing by an attendant in the rear'thereof.

Another object is to provide such acase in which the attendant in the rear of the case may not only manipulate the doors, but may himself remove articles from the-case from his position behind it. n

Another Objectis to provide such a case having door manipulating devices of'novel construction and arrangement.

Further objects will'appear from the detail description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which Figure l is a perspective view illustrating a show case embodying this invention;

Figure 2 is a.y transverse section of Figure l ;V

' Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view showing the handle and its attach- 'ing means.

Fig. 4; is .an enlarged fragmentary end view showing a cigar box mountedon thev support.

Referring to the accompanying drawing, the show case here illustrated comprises a base or sub-structure l suitably designed to standen the iioor and having integrally constructed therewith a super-structure 2 which forms the show case proper. The part 2 is provided with a front sloping upwardly to the rear and terminatino' at the upper part thereof adjacent a narrow top 3.

The front is formed by a pair of horizontally movable doors l having transparent panels 5 and mounted as already stated `to slope upwardly to the rear. The doors' l be mounted to slide or roll on suitable rails `6' at the top. and bottom ofthe door opening and adapted to engage grooves .in

the upper and low-eredges of the doors.

These doors are mounted to slide past one another so that either one may be moved aside to open the case. Along the abutting faces of the inner rails 7 ofbot-h doors, suitable sealing strips 8 may be provided to seal the case against the entrance of dust when the doors are closed. 1

Fixed to the rear side of the upper rail 9 of each door and substantially at the middle thereof is a handle l0. This handle is provided with a shank bent at its inner end to provide an angular extension ll which has riveted, welded or otherwise fastened thereto aV cross member l2 adapted for attachment to the door 4i. In order to save space the mein ber l2 may be let into the surface of the rail 9 and is fastened thereto by screws '13 or other suitable means. This construction provides a rigid handle rigidly and securely attached to thedoor for moving` the saine. The

rear wall 14 of the show case yis provided with vhorizontal slots l5 tl'uougb'which the handles l0 project and in which these handles may move for operating the doors. The handles project through the slots la to the rear of the casingand are positioned one above the other as illustrated in Figure 2 so that they may be easily grasped by the attendant and also that they may freely pass one another as the doors'pass one another in their movement.

Within the case a series of shelves 16 may be provided which are arranged in tiersas illustrated in Figure 2. rlhese shelves divide the case into an upper display coin- .s Whi li is removably mounted :t Waiter pan 2O which serves to keep tlie atmosphere oli' the display compartment moist for the presrvaton of Such goods as cigars which may be put on display. The lower shelf 1G lo may be provided With a similar opening' elosedrrbyY or oztpQl. Snell an openmi y* (mei l 'J i y it; "",V l i Ml A Customer` to make 'IU ease or he may by reaching over the narrow top take the articles from the ease and present them to the customer. The interior 0l' ythe ease is arranged' so that the display ol' Cigars may b@ lranged attractively and in qu. neat ordennll th gednat *am I e rnelie A l y airecenme: vement means for ele 1s Yit bar 'S52 ijiinr/iinc and mounted or Sup` This bar Yi lengthwise of the ease piQltedgD 5 the ends thereof.

s "'ormed Ywitlrt series of notches Q3 and'lies im series of clips Q5. The

and letJl intof'tlie en inse elioreo clips 25 er e fixed, to

mounted thereon intervals 'there/eilen .f f Alie ieerftliereol ted J;- xlrne. eine indre Y trolll b Y :114D y weile or Veon'struotion W @muy to :ope 'for'e'lo'ee me dle rigidly connecte n-oieftinp; m 'd it"` the door.

ntl

o i f projecting through slots in the rear wall of the case, said handles being positioned one above another. j

8. In a show case7 a series of horizontally movable d oors adapted to move pasteach other to open or close the front ot the case7 and handles on said doors and projecting through and movable in separate slots in the rear wall of the case.

9. A show case having a horizontally movable door sloping upwardly to the rear and terminating adjacent a narrow top7 and a handle rigidly attached on said door projecting through and operable from the rear of the oase.

10. In a show case having a series of hori- Zontally movable doors sloping upwardly to the rear and terminating adjacent a narrow top, and handles rigidly attached on said doors projecting through and operable from the rear of the case. Y

11. In a show case having a top and a iront, horizontally sliding door adapted to open or close the front of the case, and a handle rigidly secured tothe upper part of 

